The White Rhino is my final drawing for a great short Natural History Illustration course I have just completed. The course helped me understand graphite and I really enjoyed closely observing the natural world and the application of Science in drawing, I am looking forward to doing more Natural History-style illustrations and incorporating design and layout to illustrate Scientific discoveries and principles, and venturing into further techniques with colour- watercolour, ink, pencils and some digital too.

The white Rhino is such a majestic creature, it is sad for the Rhino that China has reversed a 25 year Ban and is now allowing the sale of Rhino horn (and Tigers) for medicinal purposes. Although the Southern White Rhino previously thought to be extinct, is doing well in Ranger protected reserves, and is now listed as 'near threatened' (WWF). Sadly poachers are now a more serious threat against these efforts.

There are only 2 remaining Northern White Rhinos. Researchers on four continents are working with Eggs and Tissue samples in the hope to facilitate the Northern White Rhino's survival.

This Rhino lives in Florence, Italy in La Specola Natural History Museum as a Taxidermy specimen, will this be the only way we will soon be able to see a northern White Rhino?

Original post blogged on 1st November 2018, Re-blogged due to moved domain.